Jet pump

ABSTRACT

A jet pump may include a body that may include an inlet portion having a motive port and a first induce port, a throat, a tapered wall connecting the inlet portion with the throat, a discharge port, and a diffuser connecting the throat and the discharge port. The tapered wall may include a converging angle of about 5 degrees.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of India Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 202011016130, filed on Apr. 14, 2020, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to jet pumps, including jetpumps that may be utilized in connection with aircraft fueltransfer/scavenge pumps, oil/gas pumps, water pumps, chemical injectors,thermal management systems, and/or nuclear reactor pumps, among others.

BACKGROUND

This background description is set forth below for the purpose ofproviding context only. Therefore, any aspect of this backgrounddescription, to the extent that it does not otherwise qualify as priorart, is neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art againstthe instant disclosure.

Some existing jet pump designs are not efficient and/or require largepower inputs.

There is a desire for solutions/options that minimize or eliminate oneor more challenges or shortcomings of jet pumps. The foregoingdiscussion is intended only to illustrate examples of the present fieldand is not a disavowal of scope.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In embodiments, a jet pump may include a body that may include an inletportion having a motive port and a first induce port, a throat, atapered wall connecting the inlet portion with the throat, a dischargeport, and/or a diffuser connecting the throat and the discharge port.The tapered wall may, for example and without limitation, include aconverging angle of about 5 degrees.

The foregoing and other potential aspects, features, details, utilities,and/or advantages of examples/embodiments of the present disclosure willbe apparent from reading the following description, and from reviewingthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the claims are not limited to a specific illustration, anappreciation of various aspects may be gained through a discussion ofvarious examples. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certainfeatures may be exaggerated or hidden to better illustrate and explainan innovative aspect of an example. Further, the exemplary illustrationsdescribed herein are not exhaustive or otherwise limiting, and are notrestricted to the precise form and configuration shown in the drawingsor disclosed in the following detailed description. Exemplaryillustrations are described in detail by referring to the drawings asfollows:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view generally illustrating an embodiment ofa jet pump according to teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view generally illustrating portions of anembodiment of a jet pump and the velocity of fluid therein according toteachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional and graphical view generally illustratingfluid total pressure in a plurality of locations of an embodiment of ajet pump according to teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a graphical view of efficiency relative to a flow ratio ofinduced flow rate to motive flow rate associated with an embodiment of ajet pump according to teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view generally illustrating an embodiment ofa jet pump according to teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view generally illustrating portions of anembodiment of a jet pump and the velocity of fluid therein according toteachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a graphical view of efficiency relative to a flow ratio ofinduced flow rate to motive flow rate associated with an embodiment of ajet pump according to teachings of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are described herein and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. While the present disclosure will bedescribed in conjunction with embodiments and/or examples, they do notlimit the present disclosure to these embodiments and/or examples. Onthe contrary, the present disclosure covers alternatives, modifications,and equivalents.

In embodiments, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 1, a jet pump 100may include a body 102 that may include a generally cylindrical and/orelongated configuration. The body 102 may include an inlet portion 104,an outlet/discharge port 110, a throat 112, and/or a diffuser 114. Theinlet portion 104 may include a first induce port 106, a motive port108, and/or a first nozzle 118. The throat 112 may be connected to anoutput of the inlet portion 104 and and/or an input of the diffuser 114.The diffuser 114 may be connected to an output of the throat 112 and/oran input of the discharge port 110. For example and without limitation,the body 102 may be configured for fluid to flow from the inlet portion104 to the throat 112, from the throat 112 to the diffuser 114, and/orfrom the diffuser 114 to the discharge p ort 110.

With embodiments, a motive flow 126 (e.g., fluid, pressurized fuel,etc.) may be provided to the motive port 108, such as from a fluidsource 140 (e.g., a fluid pump, tank, etc.). As the motive flow 126moves through the motive port 108 and into the first nozzle 118, themotive flow 126 may speed up and the pressure of the motive flow 126 maydecrease (e.g., the Venturi effect). The decrease in pressure may createa vacuum or reduced pressure area in the body 102, which may drawadditional fluid (e.g., a first induced flow 128) into the first induceport 106, such as from a tank or reservoir 142. In embodiments, such asgenerally illustrated in FIG. 2, the first inducted flow 128 may flowaround the outside of the first nozzle 118 toward a converging ortapered wall 120 of the body 102, where the first induced flow 128 maymix with the motive flow 126. The tapered wall 120 may, for example, atleast partially define a mixing chamber for the motive flow 126 and thefirst induced flow 128. The tapered wall 120 may include a convergingangle 122. The converging angle 122 may be configured to maximize acontact area between the motive flow 126 and the first induced flow 128,which may facilitate effective mixing. As generally illustrated in FIG.3, in an example, a total pressure drop may, for example and withoutlimitation, be about 14.7 percent up to plane 6, which may indicate alow expansion loss associated with an embodiment of a jet pump 100. Theconverging angle 122 may, for example and without limitation, be about 0degrees to about 10 degrees, such as about 5 degrees and/or about 5.3degrees.

With embodiments, an end/outlet of the first nozzle 118 may be at leastpartially aligned with the tapered wall 120 such that the motive flow126 from the motive port 108 out of the first nozzle 118 mixes with thefirst induced flow 128 from the first induce port 106 proximate thetapered wall 120.

In embodiments, an efficiency of a jet pump 100 may correspond to theproduct of a flow ratio and a pressure ratio. The flow ratio maycorrespond to an induced flow rate divided by motive flow rate. Thepressure ratio may correspond to a difference between a discharge totalpressure and an induced total pressure divided by a difference between amotive total pressure and discharge total pressure.

Embodiments of a jet pump 100 may limit flow mixing losses, frictionlosses, and/or jet losses, which may provide embodiments of a jet pump100 with improved performance relative to other designs.

With embodiments of a jet pump 100, a distance between an end of thefirst nozzle 118 and the start of the throat 112 and a throat diametermay be configured to optimize efficiency. For example and withoutlimitation, the distance may be about two to four times greater than thethroat diameter.

In embodiments of a jet pump 100, the tapered wall 120 may be curved.The curvature of the tapered wall 120 may be relative smooth such that aradius of curvature divided by the throat diameter may be about 60 to80, such as about 73. Providing a relatively smooth curvature may limitsudden contraction loss and/or the Coanda effect.

With embodiments of a jet pump 100, a ratio of the nozzle area to thethroat area may be configured to optimize efficiency. For example andwithout limitation, the ratio may be about 0.24 to about 0.25, such asabout 0.246.

In embodiments, the throat 112 may be configured to optimize flowmixing, which may include the length of the throat 112 being longer thana diameter of the throat 112. For example and without limitation, thelength of the throat 112 maybe at least about 7 times greater (e.g.,7.58 times greater) than the diameter of the throat 112. The diameter ofthe throat 112 may be substantially constant and/or the throat 112 maybe substantially straight.

With embodiments, the diffuser 114 may be connected to an end of thethroat 112 and may be configured for static pressure recovery. Thediameter of the diffuser 114 may increase from the throat 112 toward thedischarge port 110.

In embodiments, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 5, a body 102 of ajet pump 100 may include a motive port 108, a first induce port 106, asecond induce port 116, a first nozzle 118, and/or a second nozzle 124.The motive port 108, the first induce port 106, and/or the second induceport 116, the first nozzle 118, and/or the second nozzle 124 may bedisposed substantially concentrically. The second induce port 116 mayinclude a greater outer diameter than the first induce port 106, whichmay include a greater outer diameter than the motive port 108. The firstnozzle 118 may be connected for fluid communication with the motive port108. The second nozzle 124 may be connected for fluid communication withthe first induce port 106. The first nozzle 118 may include a smallerminimum diameter than the motive port 108. The second nozzle 124 mayinclude a smaller minimum diameter than the first induce port 106. Theminimum diameters of the first nozzle 118 and the second nozzle 124 may,for example and without limitation, be substantially equal.

With embodiments, the first induce port 106 and the second induce port116 may be configured such that upon a reduction of fluid pressure inthe body 102 (e.g., at the motive flow 126 speeds up), a first inducedflow 128 may move into the first induce port 106 and a second inducedflow 130 may move into the second induce port 116. The first inducedflow 128 may move around the first nozzle 118 to mix with the motiveflow 126. The second induced flow 130 may move around the second nozzle124 to mix with the motive flow 126 and/or the first induced flow 128.With embodiments, a junction 134 between the inlet portion 104 and thethroat 112 may be smooth and/or rounded, such as to minimize losses.

In embodiments, the second nozzle 124 (and/or an end thereof) may beoffset from the first nozzle in an axial direction. With such aconfiguration, the first induced flow 128 may mix with the motive flow126 in a first mixing area 136 upstream and/or before the second inducedflow 130 mixes with the motive flow 126 in a second mixing area 138(e.g., stepped mixing). Stepped mixing may facilitate effective mixingand/or lower mixing losses.

With embodiments, the ratio of the area of the first nozzle 118 to thearea of the second nozzle 124 may be optimized for efficiency. Forexample and without limitation, the ratio may be about 0.35 to about0.45, such as about 0.41. In embodiments, the distance between the firstnozzle 118 and the second nozzle 124 (e.g., in an axial direction) maybe optimized. For example and without limitation, a ratio of thedistance between the first nozzle 118 and the second nozzle 124 relativeto the diameter of the first nozzle 118 may be about 2.0 to about 4.0,such as about 2.4 to 3.3.

In embodiments, an inner surface of the second nozzle 124 may functionas a mixing wall for the motive flow 126 and the first induced flow 128.The inner surface of the second nozzle 124 may be tapered and/or curved,and may, for example and without limitation, include a second convergingangle 132 of about 8 degrees to about 9 degrees, such as about 8.4degrees, which may maximize efficiency, at least in some circumstances.The tapered wall 120 may function as a mixing wall for the mixed motiveflow 126 and first induced flow 128 mixing with the second induced flow130. The converging angle 122 may, for example and without limitation,be about 18 degrees to about 19 degrees, such as about 18.5 degrees,which may maximize efficiency, at least in some circumstances.

With embodiments, a distance between the second nozzle 124 and thethroat 112 and/or the throat diameter may be optimized for efficiency.For example and without limitation, a ratio of the distance between thesecond nozzle 124 and the start of the throat 112 relative to the throatdiameter may be about 1 to about 2, such as about 1.4.

In embodiments, an area of the first nozzle 118 and/or an area of thethroat 112 may be optimized for efficiency. For example and withoutlimitation, a ratio of the area of the first nozzle 118 to the area ofthe throat 112 may be about 0.26 to about 0.27, such as about 0.263.

With embodiments, the throat length and/or the throat diameter may beoptimized for efficiency. For example and without limitation, a ratio ofthe throat length relative to the throat diameter may be at least about5, such as at least about 5.3.

With embodiments, a jet pump 100 may provide an efficiency of about 34percent, which may be about 12-14 percent more efficient than otherdesigns that may provide an efficiency of about 20-20 percent.Efficiency of embodiments of a jet pump 100 (e.g., with a single-induceport configuration of FIG. 1) may, for example and without limitation,be maximized when a ratio of induced flow rate to motive flow rate isabout 1 to about 1.4, such as about 1.2 (see, e.g., FIG. 4).Additionally or alternatively, efficiency of embodiments of a jet pump100 (e.g., with a dual-induce port configuration of FIG. 5) may, forexample and without limitation, be maximized when a ratio of inducedflow rate to motive flow rate is about 0.9 to about 1.1, such as about0.95 (see, e.g., FIG. 7). Embodiments of a jet pump 100 may beconfigured for use with a wide range of fluids, including liquids andgasses. In contrast, ejectors may be configured only for gasses/air.

In embodiments, a jet pump 100 may, for example and without limitation,be manufactured via additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing).

Various examples/embodiments are described herein for variousapparatuses, systems, and/or methods. Numerous specific details are setforth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure,function, manufacture, and use of the examples/embodiments as describedin the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that theexamples/embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. Inother instances, well-known operations, components, and elements havenot been described in detail so as not to obscure theexamples/embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will understand that the examples/embodiments describedand illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can beappreciated that the specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit thescope of the embodiments.

Reference throughout the specification to “examples, “in examples,”“with examples,” “various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “inembodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theexample/embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus,appearances of the phrases “examples, “in examples,” “with examples,”“in various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “anembodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner in one or more examples/embodiments. Thus, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated ordescribed in connection with one embodiment/example may be combined, inwhole or in part, with the features, structures, functions, and/orcharacteristics of one or more other embodiments/examples withoutlimitation given that such combination is not illogical ornon-functional. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the presentdisclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

It should be understood that references to a single element are notnecessarily so limited and may include one or more of such element. Anydirectional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward,downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below,vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used foridentification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the presentdisclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to theposition, orientation, or use of examples/embodiments.

Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like)are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members betweena connection of elements and relative movement between elements. Assuch, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements aredirectly connected/coupled and in fixed relation to each other. The useof “e.g.” in the specification is to be construed broadly and is used toprovide non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and thedisclosure is not limited to such examples. Uses of “and” and “or” areto be construed broadly (e.g., to be treated as “and/or”). For exampleand without limitation, uses of “and” do not necessarily require allelements or features listed, and uses of “or” are inclusive unless sucha construction would be illogical.

While processes, systems, and methods may be described herein inconnection with one or more steps in a particular sequence, it should beunderstood that such methods may be practiced with the steps in adifferent order, with certain steps performed simultaneously, withadditional steps, and/or with certain described steps omitted.

All matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and notlimiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departingfrom the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jet pump, comprising: a body, including: aninlet portion including a motive port and a first induce port; a throat;a tapered wall connecting the inlet portion with the throat; a dischargeport; and a diffuser connecting the throat and the discharge port. 2.The jet pump of claim 1, wherein the tapered wall includes a convergingangle of about 5 degrees.
 3. The jet pump of claim 1, wherein the inletportion includes a first nozzle.
 4. The jet pump of claim 3, wherein anoutlet or end of the first nozzle is at least partially aligned with thetapered wall such that a motive flow flowing from the motive port out ofthe first nozzle mixes with an induced flow from the first induce portproximate the tapered wall.
 5. The jet pump of claim 4, wherein themotive port and the first induce port are disposed substantiallyconcentrically and the first induce port includes a greater outerdiameter than the motive port.
 6. The jet pump of claim 1, wherein theinlet portion includes a first nozzle, a second induce port and a secondnozzle.
 7. The jet pump of claim 6, wherein the motive port, the firstinduce port, and the second induce port are disposed substantiallyconcentrically.
 8. The jet pump of claim 7, wherein the second induceport includes a greater outer diameter than the motive port and thefirst induce port.
 9. The jet pump of claim 8, wherein the first nozzleis offset in an axial direction from the second nozzle.
 10. The jet pumpof claim 6, wherein the tapered wall includes a converging angle and thesecond nozzle includes a second converging angle.